<div>Background: Peanut is a widely cultivated food crop of the legume family and is a major source of vegetable oil and protein in the global agricultural economy. However, the productivity of peanuts is severely affected by abiotic stress, particularly drought. Therefore, it is necessary to identify genes related to abiotic stress tolerance and analyze genetic diversity by SSR markers related to drought tolerance in peanut varieties. 
 
Methods: PCR amplification was used for the isolation of the DREB2C gene. The DREB2C gene sequence was analyzed using bioinformatic tools to identify functional domains, 3D modeling structures and other important characteristics. RT-qPCR was performed to evaluate the expression level of the DREB2C gene in the different tissues of peanut cultivars. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on SSR markers linked to drought tolerance to assess the genetic diversity among peanut cultivars. 
 
Result:&nbsp;The present study identified the DREB2C gene in peanut cultivar L14. The gene encodes a polypeptide chain of 492 amino acids lacking transmembrane domains and signal peptides and with a conserved domain (AP2/ERF) and DNA binding site. The 3D protein structure was predicted with high confidence using various tools. The gene expression was investigated in different tissues and at different growth and developmental stages, as well as in various cultivars. Based on SSR markers linked to drought tolerance, the study revealed that peanut cultivars in Vietnam exhibit a medium level of diversity. It may be suggested that cross-breeding between different groups may increase variability among crops, allowing the generation of dominant varieties with improved drought tolerance.</div>

Identification and Characterization of the DREB2C Drought-tolerant Gene in Peanut Cultivar L14 and Genetic Diversity Assessment of Some Peanut Cultivars based on SSR Markers Linked to Drought Tolerance

<div>Background: Pigmented rice particularly, red and black rice have come into prominence due to their promising antioxidant property. In Assam, all major ecotypes of paddy viz., Ahu, Sali, Bao, Boro have large number of indigenous landraces with red kernel. Although Assam is recognised as a secondary centre of origin and diversity yet gene erosion is assuming serious proportion. It is acknowledged that many indigenous cultivars are facing extinction and there is apprehension that many may be lost even before they are evaluated and characterised. Among different methods, seed protein profile is recognised as fingerprint for a race by International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) as it can resolve interspecific and intraspecific variation without ambiguity.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The present study involves, molecular characterisation and genetic diversity analysis of pigmented and non-pigmented landraces. Seed protein profiles for the paddy landraces were worked out by SDS-PAGE. SDS-PAGE was carried out with two phase gradient buffer system with upper stacking gel and lower separating gel to ensure denaturation of protein while migrating through it. 
 
Result: Among the twenty landraces a total of 15 proteins bands were observed in the size range of 12.1 Kd to &gt;122.0 Kd. Highest protein bands were observed in cultivar Ranjit Amon, Bismuthi and Boro (ecotype) all with 15 protein bands. On the other hand, lowest protein bands were recorded in Amona with only 9 bands. Among the protein bands six with molecular weight &gt;122.0 Kd; 112.0 Kd; 97.4 Kd, 90.0 Kd and 15.0 Kd were consistently found in all the landraces. The dendrogram revealed a total of four clusters. The landrace Amona (red) did not belong to the any cluster and most distantly related to others. On the other hand, some are genetically identical. Agnisali, Suhagmani and Tengeri (all white) had no genetic distance between them and hence identical at molecular level. Within the same cluster both red and white rice landraces were observed. Our study suggested that several proteins bands were detected only on specific rice and it could be as biochemical markers for further research.</div>

Genetic Diversity of Seed Storage Proteins in Pigmented and Non-pigmented Indigenous Paddy (Oryza sativa L.) Landraces of Assam, India

<div>Background: Though modern high yielding and synthetics developed through maize heterosis are replacing low-yielding maize populations worldwide, it has shown little impact in Kashmir due to poor adaptability and expensive seed cost. Nevertheless, retaining popularity due to adaptability, more resistance to natural factors, early maturity, good grain quality, great food and fodder value and ability to thrive best under low input conditions, landraces are going out of farmer&rsquo;s domain and becoming extinct owing to low yielding potential, low resilience to some biotic stresses and lower sensitivity to inputs. For developing high yielding, climate-resilient cultivars and broadening of the genetic base, efficient and rapid identification and introgression of novel and favourable alleles dispersed among the landraces are necessary.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Seventy maize landraces from different parts of Kashmir valley designated as K-L1 to K-L70 were subjected to genetic analysis for thirteen important agronomic traits viz. days to 50% tasselling, days to 50% silking, anthesis-silking interval, plant height, ear height, days to maturity, ear diameter, kernel rows per ear, kernels per row, prolificacy, shelling percentage, yield per hectare and 100-grain weight. The least significance increase was calculated to evaluate best performing landraces and clustering of landraces was done using Mahalanobis D2 analysis through Tocher&rsquo;s method. The experimentation was carried out at Dryland Agriculture Research Station Budgam during the years 2019 and 2020. 
 
Result: Significant differences for all agronomic traits except anthesis-silking interval and prolificacy depicted the presence of significant genetic variability. The least significant increase calculations allowed the evaluation of best-performing landraces for specific traits and&nbsp; Mahalanobis D2 analysis through Tocher&rsquo;s method led to clustering landraces into 14 clusters with cluster I having the highest 23, followed by cluster VI with 14, cluster II and cluster III each with 9, cluster VIII with 6 genotypes and rest 9 clusters being mono-genotypic. Intra and inter-clustering distance and cluster means suggest utilizing genotypes belonging to clusters with wider statistical distances for crossing in hybridization programme to produce segregates with extensive variation resulting in higher heterosis.</div>

Genetic Diversity Analysis in Maize Landraces under Temperate Ecology

Background: Farmer-maintained traditional rice landraces represent vital germplasm reservoirs for genetic enhancement programs. These genotypes often harbor adaptive traits conferring tolerance to diverse abiotic and biotic stressors. Comprehensive characterization and evaluation of such genetic resources are imperative for their effective utilization in rice improvement strategies aimed at developing resilient and high-yielding cultivars. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: In this present study, seventy traditional rice landraces were assessed and classified using cluster analysis, which enabled the grouping of genotypes into distinct clusters based on their phenotypic and genetic similarities. The evaluated rice genotypes exhibited substantial variability across several agronomic traits, indicating significant potential for utilization in crop improvement programs. Genetic divergence analysis using Mahalanobis&rsquo; D&sup2; statistics facilitated the categorization of genotypes into distinct clusters. The insights derived from this clustering approach can streamline the breeder&rsquo;s efforts by reducing the time needed to screen extensive germplasm collections for promising breeding material. Moreover, the identified clusters serve as a valuable resource for selecting suitable donor parents in the development of drought-tolerant rice genotypes. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The seventy rice genotypes were classified into ten distinct clusters, with Cluster I comprising the majority, encompassing 61 genotypes. In contrast, each of the remaining clusters (Clusters II to X) was monogenic, containing a single genotype each. The study revealed nine cultivars namely Kokkan, Njavara Manja, Thekkan, Kadamkudy Kuruka, Karinellu, Nooranvella, Gandhakashala, Oorkayama and Thekkan chitteni formed individual clusters indicating their uniqueness.

Uniqueness of Traditional Rice Cultivars of Kerala Revealed by Diversity Analysis

Rice has been found to have anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory properties and it is believed to be due to its antioxidant properties. The research work on characterization of rice landraces for nutritional and medicinal properties is gaining importance due to increase in lifestyle related health issues such as diabetes, cancer, heart problems, obesity etc and increasing trend among consumers and profitable market is reversing and focusing towards traditional rice landraces. These rice land races exploited by the rural folks to treat to treat skin diseases, blood pressure, fever rheumatism, lactation and also uses as health tonic. Some of the rice landraces used in sidda and ayurvedic for exploiting curative value and is used in many medicinal preparations. Based on Vedic evidences, India was had more than 2,00,000 (2 lakh) rice varieties which is an huge biodiversity, genetically rich nation, no other nation in the world as that resources. The rice landraces cultivation are confined to certain pockets depending on the suitability of local climate and soil type, under varied quantity of water requirement, also having resistance to pest and diseases. Currently, a few hundreds of traditional landraces are in existenceand being cultivated in small pockets by farmers. Conserve the available landraces, the nutraceutical and nutritional properties in rice landraces, needs to be examined and validated with popularization. Indigenous cultivars will help for explore the scientific basis of therapeutic values by the scientist for sustaining food as well as the nutritional security and human health.

Exploring the Bioactives and Therapeutic Properties of Traditional Rice Landraces for Human Health and Food Security: A Review

<div>Background: Finger millet landraces exhibit great diversity as it grown in wide range of climatic conditions. Landraces keep huge nutritional and antioxidant potential but it has been highly ignored during the course of time. Exploration of landraces are essential to find out potential landraces on the backdrop of malnutrition in tribal pockets and nutrient deficiency in urban region.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Finger millet landraces were collected from tribal pockets of Nashik, Ahmednagar, Dhule and Kolhapur districts of Maharashtra, India. Nutritional and antioxidant studies were done by following standard protocols.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Obtained results shows nutritional diversity and exhibit good amount of antioxidant activity. Landraces exhibited significant amount of protein (3.55% to 18.20%), carbohydrates (40% to 78.33%) and reducing sugars (149.67 mg/100 gm to 666 mg/ 100 gm), while vitamin C content did not show variations. Difference in the tannin content of red-brown (7444.67 mg/100gm) and white grains (1347 mg/100gm) was noted. Variation in the phenolic, flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity were noted. The highest antioxidant activity was noted during the investigation (84.95%, 81.41% and 80.53%). To conclude, finger millet landraces are highly nutritious and need to be conserve as potential source of nutrients and antioxidant and for nutritional traits.</div>

Analysis of Nutritional Diversity and Antioxidant Activity of Finger Millet Landraces

<div style="text-align: justify;">Drought is a major constraint to get an optimum yield of any crop under changing environment. A total of 12 Indian accessions of maize seedlings was screened initially by performing relative water content (RWC) under water deficit condition. Three (RJ-2020, BPCH-6, and EC-3161) landraces that showed a higher RWC than DTSYN11 were finally selected for further studies. Four landraces maintained RWC above 80% under 4th and 8th day stress periods. Higher contents of chlorophyll were recorded significantly in EC-3161 and in RJ-2020 as compared to DTSYN11 under the 8th day of stress. RWC showed a decline in BPCH-6 (72.54%) and in RJ-2020 (72.65%) and proline was significantly increased up to 10 and 13-fold, respectively. Therefore, this research has identified three unfamiliar maize landraces that possess the capacity to be drought tolerance when under water deficit and watering condition. In addition to their useful applications in breeding program, they are valuable resources to elucidate genetic profiling that enhance the capacity to exhibit drought tolerance in Indian maize cultivars.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Screening of Some Selected Indian Maize Cultivars to Simulated Drought Condition</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">In order to study the effect of moisture on biophysical characteristics of different chickpea cultivars, a factorial experiment was conducted with two factors in a completely randomized block design. Factors included chickpea cultivars (Bionij, Azad and Hashem) and humidity at 4 levels (15%, 20%, 25% and 30%). This study was done with 50 repetitions in Gonbad-e Kavous University in 2013. Measured characteristics were length, width, thickness, geometric diameter, sphericity coefficient, volume and the coefficient of static friction. Results showed that, there are significant differences between the chickpea cultivars at all moisture levels for all studied characteristics. Also significant difference was found between moisture levels in different cultivars among all characteristics (except sphericity coefficient). Mean comparison of traits showed that, the highest amount of geometric diameter, the highest volume and maximum sphericity coefficient in different cultivars related to moisture content of 30%, 20% and 20% respectively. With increasing moisture, all measured parameters increased except sphericity coefficient. In addition Hashem cultivar is strongly influenced by increasing moisture in terms of grain volume and the geometric diameter.</div>

Effect of moisture content on biophysical characteristics of chickpea cultivars

<div>Background: Common bacterial blight (CBB) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) has been recorded as one of the most important seed-borne destructive diseases of beans, affecting its production worldwide. Since chemical compounds cause serious damage to natural ecosystems and in some instances fail in controlling CBB, the use of genetically resistant cultivar is the most economically efficient and environmentally friendly measure in the control of CBB disease. The objective of this study was to assess the resistance reactions of widely grown and popular common bean cultivars against Xap under controlled conditions. 
 
Methods: In this study, 16 dry bean cultivars comprising eight widely grown dry bean varieties, six improved and promising genotypes and two known CBB susceptible varieties, were evaluated for their reaction to the CBB in a completely randomized design with three replications. The reaction of the bean cultivars to Xap was assessed using disease incidence, disease severity, per cent severity index, the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) and incubation period.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Data analysis indicated that there were highly significant differences (p&le;0.01) among common bean cultivars for CBB disease incidence, disease severity, per cent severity index and AUDPC among cultivars. The cultivated varieties Noyanbey and &Ouml;zmen were identified as resistant cultivars. In addition, SAP6 and BAC6 resistance genes were found in these two cultivars. As a consequence, it was thought that these cultivars could be a potential source of disease resistance for CBB in breeding programs and sustainable, eco-friendly and good agricultural practices.</div>

​​Evaluation of Dry Bean Cultivars in Turkey for Resistance against Common Bacterial Blight Disease

<div style="text-align: justify;">The phenolic compounds and radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extracts of five adzuki beans were evaluate according to cultivar. The predominant phenolic acids in five cultivars of adzuki bean were (+)-catechin and gallic acid. Antioxidant capacities were determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt, and reducing power was positively enhanced according to the total polyphenolic content. In a cell-based assay, adzuki beans showed cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide and inhibitory effects on the production of reactive oxygen species, except for the cultivar Vigna angularis var. nipponensis cv. Whinnarae. In conclusion, (+)-catechin was the predominant phenolic compound found in adzuki beans, but there were differences according to the cultivar. Overall, the adzuki bean cultivars showed different antioxidant activities and cytoprotective effects according to the concentration and composition of phenolic compounds.</div>